What's in my Spray Bottle

Goody Brush Fail

This week while deep conditioning I found a few split ends. Normally I wouldn’t think to much of it except for the fact that I JUST BC’ d 3 weeks ago. My ends should not be splitting already, especially since I went out and bought new shears for the occasion.

The only thing I can think of that is causing the these splits is my new brush :/. I purchased this Goody Brush as a temporary fix until I get my hands on the tangle teezer. I didn’t want to get the real denmen brush because… well because I was being cheap lol.

I figure I would save a few bucks and just use this until I get my teezer, that way I only spend 14 dollars instead of 20. BIG MISTAKE

Now I don’t know if it’s the brush itself or the way I’m using it, but at this point I really don’t care. Looks like it’s back to my shower comb and finger smoothing for now.

Peace
So much love
Erika

P.S.
Next week will mark my 1 month naturalJ

DevaCurl... Take 2

So today I decided to revist my Deva Curl Heaven In Hair deep treatment. This time I mixed it with Aloe Vera Juice and Castor Oil


1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera Juice
½ tablespoon of Conditioner
1 teaspoon of castor oil


This time I also used the shower as a steam room to help the product penetrate my hair shaft. So here’s what I did from start to finish.

Step one. Saturate my hair with cheapie conditioner(Vo5 moisture milk) to detangle

Step two. Scalp scrub.

Step three. Wash with hair one

Step four. Apply the mix over my entire head

Step five. Let the steam penetrate the hair shaft for about 10-15 minutes( I read while I was In there)

Step six. Put on a plastic cap and continued to let the conditioner do it’s thing for another hour( I clean the bathroom and did some laundry)

Step 7. Rinse with cool water.

Eh not so much. I actually think I liked it better alone. I am going to try it one more time and then I will give an actual thorough review of the product, but since it was 30 bucks please believe I will be using it until it’s gone.

Peace
So Much Love
Erika

The Washington Ballet :)

Hey Dolls,

I just wanted to let you all know about my amazing weekend. Caleb and I celebrated Valentines day last weekend by going to the ballet. The show, ROCK & ROLL, was amazing. I have only been to the ballet one other time, so it was an awesome experience. We will definitely be going to see another show soon.



We stayed in an older hotel near Constitution Hall. Even though it was old, it was very nice, the only draw back was our room was very very very VERY VERY small lol.



On our way to the hotel we got a little lost, so we ended up missing our dinner reservations, but it was nice to have some time to relax and get ready for the show!




We decided to walk to the show since it was only a few blocks away, and since we skipped dinner we had time to snap a picture in front of the theater.




I ended up wearing my Kerry wig the night of the ballet, because after our whole driving experience I really didn't have energy to style my hair (So glad I brought her with me).

The next day however, I did get a chance to rock my TWA to breakfast.



and my bae was fly too:)

Scalp Scrub

Pro's and Con's of Doing my Own Big Chop

Pro's
1. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo empowering! After I BC'd I felt like I could do anything.

2. I only cost me $8.99( i bought a new pair of shears for the occasion)

3. I cut had the final work on exactly how much was cut

4. My BC was sort of spur of the moment, so I didn't have to make an appointment and wait a week, which would have probably resulted in me changing my mind.

5. I was able to Skype my mom during. I know it sounds silly, but I loved having her support throughout the process, since she lives 4 and 1/2 hours away, and I don't really have many friends here, I would have probably ended up going along to get it cut at a salon.

CONs

1. I still have a few straight ends I missed

2. It's a little uneven

3. I took forever


For me the pro's out numbered the con's but, I don't think self big chopping is for everyone. Make you own list and see what will work best for you!!!!!

China Glaze: For Audrey

I am really loving this China Glaze Polish. It's a great spring color and these minty colors are really hot right now. In all of the pics I have a layer of Seche Vite top coat over it sooo cheeckkk it out :) Oh yea I bought this from Sally's, they had dollar off coupons so I couldn't resist.

For Audrey


natural light

with flash

without flash

Peace
Soo Much Love
Erika

Feb Length Check

My Regimen and Personal Challenge

Hey Dolls,



i wanted to do an updated regimen since I've been natural. I am still stumbling my way around my natural hair, but I think I have a pretty solid regimen down so here it goes..

Oh yea this regimen is base on a personal challenge of achieving the healthiest hair and scalp possible so until my birthday I will be deep conditioning and scalp scrubbing 2 times a week. Click Here for updated products and recipes

THURSDAYS and SUNDAYS(wash days)

1. Pre-Poo(either DC, Molasses, Oil Treatment or Protein Treatment)

2. Scalp Scrub(usually while pre-poo is marinating)

3. Wash or co-wash

4. Saturate hair with a conditioner and detangle( this is when I dc if I haven't already if so then I usually just use a cheapie with lots of slip)

5. Cool water rinse

6. apply leave-ins

7. Two Strand Twist or Shingle.

DAILY For Twists

1. Spritz hair in the morning and at night

2. apply more leave-in and re-twist some sections if needed)

3. satin scarf, then a wig for protective styling or my bonnet for bed :)

DAILY for Shingles

1. Chose my accessory

2. coat hand with oil and run throughout hair to fluff until it looks the way I want it to.

2b. if my hair is not coming back to life with just the oil and fluffing then I will spritz my hair and add a bit more gel and re style.

3. oil scalp if needed

4. at night just add a bit more oil and on my bonnet

5 things I always do


1. drink lots of water
2. sleep with a bonnet or scarf
3. take my vitamins
4. listen to what my hair is telling me
5. detangle with lots of conditioner for slip

My Journey thus far :)

Updated Wash Day Routine

*(please excuse my face]

Hey Dolls. Here is my new wash day routine
*(this will work if you’re relaxed too!]

Ok so here is my slightly updated wash day routine. I do a lot of the same steps that I did when I was relaxed and even when I transitioned, but the products are slightly different.

I started a personal healthly hair and scalp challenge to deep condition and scalp scrub 2 times a week until my birthday (June 12). So I will be doing this twice a week until then. After that time I will probably only do this once a week using Hair One, and co-wash as needed after that.

The first step in my wash day routine is scalp scrub. I gently apply the mixture directly to my scalp in circular motions.
The recipe is as follows:

2 tablespoons of brown sugar
2tablespoons of EVOO
1 teaspoon of Neem powder
10 drops of tea tree oil
(click here to see a previous posts and variations on this scrub)


After I scalp scrub I apply my pre-poo. My pre-poo changes from wash to wash depending on how lazy I am being that day. Sometimes I will go ahead and apply my DC or sometimes I will do the Molasses Treatment, and sometimes I will just use some EVOO.

This week I did the molasses treatment
This recipe has changed since I BC‘d, mostly because I don’t need to mix as much of it as I use to, but for more info or to see the old recipe CLICK HERE

.5 oz of your favorite conditioner
1 teaspoon of castor oil
1 teaspoon of EVOO
½ teaspoon of Molasses

I let that sit on my scalp and hair for about 15-20 minutes and then I rinsed and co-washed.

I put my turbie towel on for about 5 minutes just to soak up some of the excess moisture and then I applied my deep conditioner. Since I have been experiencing some twa dryness I went on ahead and used my Deep Treat Conditioner. Here’s my first impression of that.



About an hour or so later I rinsed that out and applied my leave-in and twisted my hair with V05 conditioners.

(click here for a full list of the products I am currently using)

HTH

5 things I've Learned About my Natural Hair

As you all know by now I big chopped one week ago today. It has been an amazing journey so far, and I’ve learned a lot this week. So here’s a list of the 5 most important things I’ve learned thus far.

1. TWA dryness sucks :/ It’s hard to be fly when your hair feels like a brillo pad. #imjustsayin

2. Invest in a GOOD deep conditioner. Now I’m not telling you how to spend your money, BUUUTTTT get you one. And when I say good I mean something that is meant specifically for DEEP Conditioning. Look for the words INTENSIVE or RESTORATIVE MASK. Oh and don’t use your good stuff ever week. that’s just a big ole waste of money.

3. KEEP THEM CURLS STRETCHED!!! The first rule in the natural handbook. Prevent fairy knots at all costs! I like to do twists , but sometimes I’m lazy and I do ponytails.. (I know I’ve only been natural for a week, but I’m still lazy geesh]

4. Twist-outs are NOT my bff. I look like side show bob. I am probably just doing them wrong, but for me and my twa wash and go’s are the way to go!!! Do like me, experiment and find your signature TWS style.

5. LOVE the hair on YOUR OWN HEAD I know a lot of ladies are surprised by the texture of their hair when they finally bc, but I love my kinky coils. I am happy with my choice to big chop, and I have no regrets. I will say that even though I chopped spontaneously I was ready to begin my natural hair journey. Seeing yourself with 2 inchees of hair is not for the faint of heart. Don’t do it until your confident enough to rock your TWA proudly.

Peace
So much Love
Erika

My Natural Products.

Big Chop :)

I'm Big Chopping!!!

not now...


but RITE NOW :)

MMM...Cupcakes!!!!

Hey Dolls,
Just wanted to share a quick dupe with you all.
Bodycology Vanilla Cupcake(retails for about 4 bucks at wal-mart)



VS.

Victoria Secret Beauty Rush CupQuake(About 12 bucks at Victoria Secret)




Now I'm sure the Cupquake is a higher quality product, but for 12 dollars you can buy the entire bodycology line.

Now I LOVE Victoria Secret scents so I may buy the lotion just to add it to my collection, but I have the Bodycology bubble bath and the body splash :)